High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and stroke. High blood pressure medicines can treat the condition by reducing the blood's volume, relaxing the blood vessels, or causing the heart to not beat as hard.
Diuretics
Diuretics, which include the drugs furosemide, spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide, reduce blood pressure by lowering the liquid volume of the blood. As the U.S. Food and Drug Administration explains, diuretics are also known as water pills because they cause the body to excrete more water, thus causing the blood to have less volume.
ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are also called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. According to the American Heart Assoication, these medications include benazepril, lisinopril and enalapril. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors affect the way the body processes a hormone called angiotensin, which cause blood vessels to constrict. Taking ACE inhibitors will act to expand blood vessels, thereby helping to lower blood pressure.
Angiotensin-2 Receptor Blockers
Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers are medications which work similarly to ACE inhibitors. They prevent angiotensin from having its constricting effect on blood vessels. Losartan, valsartan and eprosartan are all examples of this kind of medication.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are medications that treat high blood pressure by slowing how hard and how fast the heart beats. Commonly prescribed beta blockers include atenolol, timolol as well as acebutolol.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium is needed in order for the muscles around the blood vessels to contract, which causes them to get more narrow. By blocking the influx of calcium into these muscles, calcium channel blockers are able to keep blood vessels dilated, which helps keep blood pressure down. Calcium channel blockers include the prescription medications verapamil, amlodipine and diltiazem.
